Family Affair

On this leap year bonus day of Black History Month, I want to honor a man who played the music of many of the artists we’ve paid tribute to as “Artists of the Day.” He formed the National Association of Radio Announcers for Black DJs (NARA) and in 1977 launched Jack the Rapper Family Affair, which was the #1 music conference in the USA. When I first attended the Family Affair in 1990 and met Jack, the record business was still booming. Stars, executives, managers, up & coming artists and of course groupies, came to Atlanta at Jack’s conference to do deals, perform, and party.  Mariah Carey, Luther Vandross, TLC, New Kids on the Block, MC Hammer and many others performed at Family Affair.

I thought Jack was telling tall tales about when he was a young DJ and co-owner of the first Black owned American radio station, WERD-AM in Atlanta. He said Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s office was right below him and he used to pass his microphone out the window and down so Dr. King could speak about what he and Southern Christian Leadership Council were planning and doing. However, I recently learned that it was true. Jack could make a room full of people from all different races, cultures and economic backgrounds crack up laughing with his stories about “the good old days” in radio. He believed in promoting and bringing together all Black music, including the new phenomena – rap.

Now Jack was not a rapper as in Chuck D or Biggie Smalls. He earned his name because of his style of radio DJing, where he would “rap” about all kinds of stuff in between playing songs and commercials. Unfortunately, Jack’s desire for inclusiveness led to the downfall of his beloved Family Affair. Several of my friends attended the 1993 convention and gave me first hand real time accounts of what happened. This was at the height of “gansta rap” East Coast, West Coast, Dirty South rivalry. Luke Campbell’s record company had put out a record titled “Cowards of Compton.” Suge Knight and his Death Row crew, including Snoop Dogg were there as well as Puffy and the New Yorkers. Well, all hell broke loose with attendees fighting, throwing televisions out the windows into the swimming pool, etc. Jack died 7 years later broke and forgotten. Cynics say Jack didn’t turn away “trouble” because he didn’t want to lose their registration money. Call me naive, but I believe Jack was telling the truth about wanting to include everyone and give youngsters a shot at getting signed to record deals just like he was truthful about lowering the microphone out his window to Dr. King. RIP dear Jack the Rapper.

One love,

Aria